Unknown: Pendleton's iconic designs have been a fixture of
North American life since the early 20th century successfully
running a business marketed to both indigenous and non
indigenous Americans. To this day, the company says 50% of its
blankets are sold to indigenous people. The company began in
1863 when Thomas K an English Weaver moved to the US state of
Oregon, where he began the woolen business that now six
generations later, is still run by his descendants. At the
factory. His daughter, Fanny was his assistant and mill
operation, learning all about the trade. But when her father
died in 1900, he left the mill to his sons only eight years
after her father's death, Fanny and her husband Charles pleasant
Bishop bought a competing factory, then failing Pendleton
woolen Mills, the bishops transformed it into what is
known best for today by introducing their infamous
patterned wool blankets. The bolt patterns created a hybrid
of cymbals from various indigenous tribes and
geometrical patterns from European and Oriental
influences. These patterns were designed by an expert at the
modern technology of the Jacquard loom, which helped
create intricate patterns faster. Joseph Rawnsley spent
time on indigenous reserves where his research and worked at
the company until his death in 1929. Surprisingly, Pendleton
blankets became a symbol of honor and respect in indigenous
populations, and the giving of a Pendleton blanket still
accompanies important occasions of some indigenous peoples in
America. During the mid 20th century, the company began to
market the true Indian designs on these blankets to non
indigenous populations, sometimes advertising in vogue.
Although the company has connected to indigenous
communities with college funds and collaborations with
indigenous artists and craftspeople. More recently,
some indigenous people do not like the collaborations like the
high end one with the Manhattan bass brand opening ceremony. In
a blog post on Native appropriations, Adrian Kean
writes, it's a complicated feeling, but I feel ownership
over these designs as a native person. But on a rational level,
I realize that they aren't necessarily ours to claim